After extensive speculation and a surge of attention that transcended from crypto Twitter to mainstream financial channels, the long-anticipated spot BTC ETFs finally received approval from the SEC earlier this month and swiftly became operational.
The SEC’s X account faced a last-minute compromise, leading to a premature fake approval post—an event that will be remembered as another disruptive episode in Bitcoin’s history. Nonetheless, the general consensus was that we had entered uncharted but inevitable territory, bridging the gap between a novel, volatile, and often-misunderstood monetary technology and the ostensibly risk-averse realm of mainstream finance.
With investment giant BlackRock endorsing Bitcoin, it seemed like a substantial seal of approval from traditional finance. However, not all major players share the same optimism about BTC’s prospects. Vanguard, for instance, chose not to provide access to the much-hyped new spot ETFs, taking a divergent approach compared to other firms promoting Bitcoin as an essential element of a modern portfolio.
Vanguard’s stance is consistent with its philosophy, as representatives stated that Bitcoin products do not align with their focus on traditional asset classes like equities, bonds, and cash—considered the building blocks of a well-balanced, long-term investment portfolio. Additionally, they claim that Bitcoin purchases don’t fit with Vanguard’s investment philosophy.
Steven Lubka, Managing Director at Bitcoin services provider Swan Bitcoin, suggests that Vanguard’s reluctance stems from its aversion to “non-productive” investments—investments without cash flows. This mirrors their past decision to refrain from offering gold ETFs, as gold is often considered a speculative bet on higher prices in the future.
Vanguard’s approach to Bitcoin echoes its past decisions, such as the reserved stance towards ANT (active non-transparent) ETFs in 2020. This consistency extends to State Street, which, like Vanguard, has chosen not to offer spot BTC ETFs at the moment.
Considering Vanguard’s long-term stance, any significant shift in its approach to crypto seems unlikely at this time. Even if such a change were to occur, it might require deeper and more long-term mainstream adoption of BTC. However, rejection from Vanguard, despite SEC approval, may not necessarily impede Bitcoin’s path to greater acceptance. In fact, it has generated more headlines and discussions around Bitcoin, potentially increasing its visibility in mainstream awareness. As Lubka notes, “It doesn’t matter for BTC; if anything, it’s free publicity. As long as you can still buy it at other brokers, people have all the on-ramps they need.”
